Today, a roundup of Canucks-related news and notes.
As expected, Alex Kerfoot has chosen his NHL landing spot, and it's not the Canucks. It's a bit ironic that he picked the Colorado Avalanche, considering this year's other notable NCAA free agent, Will Butcher, decided against signing with the Avs.
Sounds like West Vancouver's Kerfoot was lured by the opportunity to work under a legend from Burnaby:
Told Joe Sakic did a great job selling Kerfoot on his fit with the Avs. With trades likely, his role could be significant in near future. https://t.co/WSylXhgqcv
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 23, 2017
The Avs are still woefully undermanned on defense. According to CapFriendly, Erik Johnson, Tyson Barrie and Mark Barberio are the only NHL blueliners currently under contract for next season, and RFA Nikita Zadorov still needs to be signed. Right now, the Avs have plenty of forwards who can play centre, so it seems like Sakic is still looking to make the deal that would swap Matt Duchene for a defenseman.
It'll be interesting to see how Kerfoot's development curve compares to former Penticton Vee Tyson Jost, a 19-year-old first-rounder from 2016 who's also expected to jump into the Avs lineup this year.
Jost is on the list of first-year players who have been invited to do the rounds in Toronto next week at the NHLPA's Rookie Showcase. So is Brock Boeser.
NHLPA Rookie Showcase Roster pic.twitter.com/AowLcxGWiq
— The Morning Skate (@morning_skate) August 23, 2017
Boeser's busy summer continues. He came out on the losing end last night in Da Beauty League final after a 4-2 victory by Team RBC over Team Velocity.
A goaltenders duel gave way to highlight-reel goals in the championship game at @DaBeautyLeague last night:https://t.co/H1XrY8zm32
— KSTPSports (@KSTPSports) August 24, 2017
In other prospect news, goaltender Michael Garteig will remain a part of the extended Canucks organization next season.
#Comets sign @michaelgarteig to one-year deal.
— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) August 24, 2017
Story: https://t.co/u4Cy2NbMJx pic.twitter.com/yg4cjucM3y
A Prince George native, Garteig was signed to a one-year entry-level NHL contract last season by the Canucks after leading Quinnipiac University to the Frozen Four in 2016. He spent most of last season with the ECHL's Alaska Aces but was called up to Utica to back up Thatcher Demko after Richard Bachman was injured late in the season and appeared in eight AHL games. He also earned a memorable call-up from the Canucks last November, backing up Jacob Markstrom for one game when Ryan Miller was sidelined with the flu.
Garteig was not issued a qualifying offer at the end of the season, so it's nice to see him back with the organization.
In Europe, games are starting to get rolling in the Champions Hockey League, and Ryan Biech is doing a fantastic job of keeping track of the Canucks prospects.
He mentions that Kristoffer Gunnarsson should be suiting up for Frolunda today, and that Petrus Palmu is not in the lineup for TPS after a recent knee injury:
#Canucks prospect Petrus Palmu has suffered a knee injury and will be out 2-4 weeks.
— Canucks Mobile (@CanucksMobile) August 19, 2017
Elsewhere, Elias Pettersson's Vaxjo Lakers are taking on Lukas Jasek's Bili Tygri.
#Canucks prospect Elias Pettersson playing on the first line for Vaxjo today.
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) August 24, 2017
Lukas Jasek playing on the second line for Bili Tygri
Pettersson's at it again, generating offense while showing off some slick moves!
Elias Pettersson scores to tie the game!#Canucks pic.twitter.com/aGKAP1iDNE
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) August 24, 2017
The KHL season is also now rolling:
Nikita Tryamkin is the alternate captain for Avtomobilist (KHL) today.#Canucks
— Canucks Mobile (@CanucksMobile) August 23, 2017
First game for Nikita Tryamkin in KHL today. 7th among 8 dee in ice time and shifts 12:56. #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) August 23, 2017
Back to the present—from No. 88 to No. 89:
#WorkoutWednesday starring @89SGagner, feat. leg day. pic.twitter.com/Jq6ew1U25M
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) August 23, 2017
Earlier this month, Sam Gagner was on the ice at the Power Edge Pro camp in Toronto, working out with a group that also included Connor McDavid, John Tavares and Matt Duchene. Good company!
Reactive countering. #rethinkyourtraining pic.twitter.com/kVWAKeEKj2
— Power Edge Pro (@PEPHockey) August 1, 2017
To conclude today—The Hockey News has been doing future projections for teams around the league, and just got to Vancouver:
Our 2020 Vision series continues with the Vancouver Canucks. Eventually, the rebuild will start to yield improvement https://t.co/EJ8KbLXm34
— Matt Larkin (@THNMattLarkin) August 23, 2017
Matt Larkin is going against the grain and projecting that Jordan Subban still has a chance to become an NHL player—and he's high on Kole Lind! It's fun looking at a future Canucks lineup that also includes not just future leader Bo Horvat and the sniper Boeser but also Pettersson, Jonathan Dahlen, Olli Juolevi and Thatcher Demko as a starting goaltender.
The Canucks should be coming into their own again right around the time the next lockout kicks in!